Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane — best known for portraying Hagrid in the Harry Potter films — has died after two years of illness. He was 72 years old.
His agent Belinda Wright confirmed his passing, describing Coltrane — born Anthony Robert McMillan — as a "wonderful actor" who was "forensically intelligent." A cause of death has not been revealed, though Wright thanked Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, Scotland for their care.
She said: "He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, a role which brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years."
UPDATE (10/14, 3:35 p.m. ET): Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has paid tribute to Coltrane in a statement, writing:
Robbie was one of the funniest people I've met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set. I've especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid's hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he's passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.
Over the span of his career, Coltrane also had roles in TV murder drama Cracker, Channel 4 drama National Treasure, Nuns on the Run, Mona Lisa and Ocean's 12, as well as two James Bond films.
He is survived by his two children and their mother.
His agent Belinda Wright confirmed his passing, describing Coltrane — born Anthony Robert McMillan — as a "wonderful actor" who was "forensically intelligent." A cause of death has not been revealed, though Wright thanked Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, Scotland for their care.
She said: "He will probably be best remembered for decades to come as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, a role which brought joy to children and adults alike all over the world, prompting a stream of fan letters every week for over 20 years."
UPDATE (10/14, 3:35 p.m. ET): Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has paid tribute to Coltrane in a statement, writing:
Robbie was one of the funniest people I've met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set. I've especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid's hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he's passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.
Over the span of his career, Coltrane also had roles in TV murder drama Cracker, Channel 4 drama National Treasure, Nuns on the Run, Mona Lisa and Ocean's 12, as well as two James Bond films.
He is survived by his two children and their mother.
